Coupling.



J. SACHS.

GOUPLING. 'APPLIGATION TILBD Nov. 5, 1908.

Patented Dee. 19.1911.

' nnrrnn` STATES PATENTF" ernten. g f

JOSPH SACHS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIG'NOR T0 THE SACHS COMPANY, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

. coUrLING.

To all wmjm it concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SACHS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of AHartford, in the county ofY Hartford and exact specification.

This invention relates to couplings for two joining members of various kinds, such as main and branch wires, rods, pipes, or cables, either mechanically or electrically, or both. The invention is herein shown to be embodied in what is commonly known as a tap joint or coupling for joining abr-'anch line electrical conductor to a main line conductor, the object in this case being to make a secure and compact mechanical andelectrical connection, which can be made quickly, clamping bothV the main and the branch lines and drawing them together by a single or unitary operation or movement or action. Figure 1 of thedrawings is a side exterior view of the coupling shown in clamped p0- sition upon a main and branch line. 2 is an end view projected from Fig. 1. Fig.

' 3 is a sectional side view, similar to Fig. 1,

with the coupling members shown in section. Fig. 4: is an end view of the coupling of the previous figures, with the clamping nut shown in section. Fig. 5 is an underneath view of the coupling of Fig. 4, with the clamping nut omitted. Fig.` 6 is an end View of the strap. Fig. 7 is an edge view, and Fig. 8 a side View of the -compression sleeve for the branch line.

This coupling, in the form shown in the drawings, consists of three parts, the bifurcated strap member 1, the compression sleeve 2, and the clamping nut 3. The opening'et in the strap member is preferably U-shaped, the concaved bottom fitting approximately one-half` of the circumference'of the` main line 5, which is herein shown to be a cable consisting of a number of strands of wires, which are generally provided with insulation 6. The outside bifurcated ends of the strap are provided with screw threads 8, upon which the clamping nut 3 is fitted.

The compression sleeve 2 is provided with a longitudinall aperture 9 for receiving the` branch line 10, which in this case is shown to be a wire or rod provided with insulation 11. To facilitate the closing of the Specication of Letters Patent.

vApplication filed November 5, 1908. Serial No. 461,142.

' Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

sleeve it is split longitudinally at A12, and is provided with the beveled surface 15 fitting a correspondingly tapered portion 16 of the nutv 3. The opposite sides of the sleeve are preferably iattened at 17 to fit into the U-shaped openings 4 of thestrap l, and the base of the sleeve is concavely recessed at 18 to fit against the corresponding side of the main line cable 5, to extend the area of contact therewith to'secure a more perfect electrical connection, and also serve to pre-.

vent the sleeve from turning, in cases where that function is not attended to by the flat-` tenedV sides 17 of the sleeve.

The outer surface of the clamping nut 3 is preferably made square or polygonal to Areceive a wrench, although it may obviously be adapted to receive va Spanner vwrench or 1 pliers, or other tools used by an electrician or other mechanic.

In connecting themain means of this coupling, the lines are bared of their insulation and the strap 1 is placed over the main line, the sleeve 2 is inserted lbetween the' open ends, and the nut 3 screwed part way on. After placing the end of the branch line -10 in position-in the sleeve,A the dut 3 is tightened, its tapering surface 16 bearing against the beveled surface 15 of the sleeve 2, compressing it upon the branch member l0, and at the same time forcing it endwise, thereby clamping, its concaved base 18 against one side of the main line 5, the concaved bottom of the U-shaped opening 4 of the strap being lby the same movement of the nut drawn against the opposite sidefof the main line, so that both parts are securely clamped and the branch member forced endwse against the main member by the unitary operation, or movement, or action of screwing the nut upon the strap 1. This avoids the necessity of two separate operations or movements for tightening the joint upon the main line and the branch line, and also avoids the liability of neglecting, through.l oversight, to tighten one 'of them. The parts arereleased with equal ease by merely unscrewing the nut 3, reversing the assembling and tightening operation just described.

The component parts of this coupling are simple in form as well as being few in number, and are adapted to be manufactured at low cost by modern methods, most of the work being adapted to be done'on automatic screw machines, by Which great economy of manufacture is attained.

The body of the strap l is herein shown to be square, although obviously it may be cylindrical, and in that case be made of round stoclr. lt is, however, considered preterable to malre it with a square or polygonal body, in order that a wrench may be used upon it if necessary, in connection With another Wrench upon the nut 3, for tightening the coupling Where exceptional tightness is desired. A

Obviously the form, proportions, and other details of the various parts of this coupling may be modified in many Ways to suit various requirements, or diderent conditions of service.

The terms main line branch line and perhaps other terms, are not necessarilyv used in their absolute sense, but mainly for convenience and clearness of description. rlhe connection may be made at any desired portion of the main line, including its ends, so that the joint made might be Leshapedinstead of the T shape herein shown. Nor is it essential to set the branch line at right angles with the main line, as herein shown, since the parts may be set at any desired angle.`

Instead of being split and'clamped upon the branch line the sleeve 2, or any suitable head or collar may be driven, or soldered, or riveted on the end of the branch. Or the end of the branch itself may be headed or otherwise shaped to adapt it' to the coupling function herein described. In such cases the nut 3 may be slipped on the branch line before securing or forming .the sleeve or head thereon; or the nut may be slipped over the branch from its opposite end. The arrangement herein shown, however, enables the joint to be disconnected and reconnected easily, Without removing,l or even separating, any of the members of the clamping joint, except the Wires themselves, thus keeping the parts together and avoiding the possible loss of some of them, While enabling i the oint to be quickly and lsecurely remade merely by slipping the end of the branch line into position and tightening the entire joint by a single movement,

I claim as my invention A l.V A coupling for tWo members including means for clamping one member and drawing the end of the other member endvvise toward the side of the first member to secure them together by a single action.

2. A coupling lfor two lines, including clamping means for each of the said lines, and unitary means for operating the clamping device, to dran7 one of said lines endwise toward the other line and secure them together by a single action. I

3. ln a coupling, the combination of a clamp for a main line, a clamp for detachably holding a branch line in endvvise relaimams tion to the main line, and unitary means for operating the said clamps to tighten themv both upon their respective lines by a single action.

4. Means for coupling a main line and branch line, including in combination. a clamp for the main line, a clamp for the branch line, and means for tightening the latter clamp upon its branch line and against the main line by a single movement, carrying the said branch line endwise with it.

' 5. Means for mechanically and electrically coupling a main line and a branch line, including in combination a clamping member for the main line, a clamp for the branch line, coacting With the aforesaid member for clamping the main line, and unitary means for operating the branch line clamp by a single movement, to tighten it and carry the branch line endWise toward the main line.

6. Means for electrically and mechanically connecting a main line and a branch line, including in combination a clamping member for the main line, a clamp for the branch line, and unitary means cooperating with the rst named member for tightening the branch clamp and clamping it against the main line, in a direction. to carry oneof said lines endwise toward the other line.

7; The combination with main line engaging means and branch line engaging means, of unitary means for clamping the said engaging means upon their respective lines,` and moving one line endwise toward the other line.

' 8. A. coupling consisting of clamp-ing members for a main and a branchline, and unitarymeans fordravving the tvvo members together to clamp them upon their respective lines moving one line edvvise toward theother line.

9. Means for coupling a main line and a branchline together, including in combina tion a clamping member for the main line,

.A a clamping member for holding the branch line in substantially radial relation to the mainline, cooperating vvith the first named member for clamping the main line, and unitary means for closing the said clamps upon both lines by a single action.

l0. A coupling consisting of a main line strap, a branch line sleeve,v and a clamping nut engagingvvith the said strap and sleeve for closing them upon their respective lines.

11. A coupling including in combination a main line strap, a branch line sleeve and a clamping nut threaded upon the said strap, and engaging the said sleeve to close the said sleeve and draw the said sleeve and strap toward each other against the main line.

l2. t coupling including in combination a Ushaped strap for the main line', a com pression sleeve for the branch line, and a clamping nut threaded upon the open end i' ltime drawing 30.

of the said U-shaped main line strap and engaging with the said sleeve to compress the sleeve and clamp it and the said strap upon the mainline.

13. A coupling including incombination a U-shaped strap for the main line, a compression sleeve forvthe branch line seated between the open ends of the U-shaped strap, and a clamping nut threaded upon the said open ends and engaging with the sleeveto compress the` sleeve and dra-w it into the open ends of the strap againstlthe' main line.

14.V A coupling including in lcombination a compression sleeve for a branch line, a strap provided with a U-shaped opening for receiving .a main line and the said sleeve, and a clamping nut surrounding the said sleeve and threaded upon the outside of the U-shaped ends of the strap forcorn ressing the sleeve, and drawing it into the -shaped opening against the main line. p l15. Acoupl-ing including in combination .a main line strap, a branch line terminal seated in the said strap, and a clamping nut 'threaded upon the strap andengaging the said terminal for drawing it into its seat in the strap against the main line, at the sume said main line. l t

16. A coupling includingin combination a strap provided with a U-sha'ped o ning,

a compression sleeve for receiving a ranch line, seated in the said U-shaped opening,A

and having a lbeveled outer surface, and a clamping nut threaded upon the outside of the open U-shaped ends of the strap, and

engaging thesaid beveled portion of the sleeve for compressing the sleeve and drawing it into its'seat in the strap against the mainlineffA 17.' A a bifurcat main line strap, a clamping sleeve for a branch line seated between the bifurcationsof the strap, and provided with the said branch line towardA coelpling including inA combination a beveled oter surface, and a clan'iping nut threaded upon the outside of the bifurcations of the strap, and engaging with the beveled surface of the sleeve to compress the sleeve and draw it into its seat between the bifurcated ends of the strap, and against the main line.l

18. A couplingincluding in combination l a bifurcated strap for a main-line, a compression sleeve for a branch line, provided with a beveled surface, and means engaging with the saidlbeveled surface and with the strap for compressing the said sleeve and drawing it between the bifurcated ends of the strap against the main line.

19. A connecting joint including in combination a compression sleeve for a branch line, provided with a beveled surface, a strap provided with a U-shaped opening for-receiving the main line and the said sleeve,

and means coacting with the .said strap andv the beveled surface ofthe sleeve for compressingthe sleeve and clamping it against the main line. y

20. A connecting joint including in combination a strap provided with a U-shaped opening having a concaved bottom for receiving the main line, a compression sleevel for a branch line provided with a beveled compressing surface, and having a concave base for ttingagainst the malnline, anda nut threaded upon theoutside of the strap and engaging the beveled surface of the 'sleeve for compressing the sleeve u on the branch line and clamping the main ine between the concaved bottom of the U-shaped opening and the concave base of the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH SACHS.

Witnesses: i

VJosnru MERRrrr CAROLINE M. BRECKLE. 

